December 7, 2024

By Felicia Roberts

Years after California announced efforts to fight Hate & Discrimination, awareness and education campaigns continue. The effort is a response to the visible rise in anti-Asian hate, both locally and nationally, the California State Legislature passed a historic $165.5 million API Equity Budget in 2021 to address the rise in hate against Asian and Pacific Islander Californians. 

The Stop the Hate Program has been implemented, with $91.4 million going to 173 local organizations across the state to support victims, provide resources, and facilitate anti-hate prevention measures. 

As a results Merced Lao Family Community, Inc. established the Stop the Hate program in 2022 to bring awareness of racial discrimination to the Asian American, LGBTQIA+, and African-American communities of Merced County. The program aims to combat the stigma left behind in the wake of COVID-19 and provide awareness, alongside emotional and mental support to those individuals who have/are experiencing racial discrimination in the forms of harassment, and physical and mental abuse.

Our Services: Merced Lao Family Community, Inc. employs a Community Safety Aid who will provide:

• Provide awareness and prevention strategies

• Refer Survivors to Police Aid or PEI

• Youth Leadership & Development

• Arts & Craft Workshops (De-stress)

• Workshops in collaboration with Merced Police Department

Merced Lao Family Community, Inc., (MLFC) a non-profit organization founded in 1981, was established to assist incoming refugees who fled from the Vietnam War. Many of these refugees were Lao, Thai, Hmong, Vietnamese, and Mien descent. Our goal is to help the Southeast Asian community assimilate to the western society. MLFC provides social work assistance; adult & youth programs; education, arts and craft, and cultural programs. These programs aim to help the community adapt to the new culture, language, workforce, and ways of life.

Their Mission is to maintain pride in cultural history, to support the community, and to lead the populace into becoming a well-informed, healthy, self-sufficient, and active members of the Central Valley community.

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.